Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07
BEYOND WANT.
MRS. rIRNAHDEZs UNEXPECTED GOOD
LUCK.
A Newspaper Advertissmsnt that Meant
$4,000 to Once Promi-
nent Actress.
New York World.l


An advertisement appeared in NOR
ming payer this month asking for news
of the whereabouts OF Emily l.. Brad
shaw Copeland or her heirs. 1t at.
tracted little attention. but il it had
been known that the person sought for
was Mrs. 4. l.. Fernandez, for years
prominent light on the stage and
whose daughter, Bijou,. is a well
knswn actress, and that by it she
was to come into fortune estimated
at more than S250,0O0, considerable
more interest would have been taken
in the matter The advertisement APP
peared on Monday morning and be-
fore noon Mrs Fernandez had visited
the address given in state OF great
excitement. When she learned of her
good fortune she was overioyed and
postponed her contemplated trip to
Europe in order to meet all the require
ments for presenting her claims in Eng
land. Yesterday all the arrangements
had been completed.
Mrs. Fernandez's maiden name is
Emily l.. Bradshaw, COPELAND being the
name OF her first husband. The estate
was originally that of her great-grand-
father, Samuel Bradshaw, who estab-
lishe ID the railroad guide which is known
throughout Europe as 1.-THE Bradshaw"
He had great ambition to become a
landed proprietor. He invested his
money in real estate. When he died,
in 1881, he left number OF extensive
holdings to his only son, Samuel 5.
Bradshaw, who succeeded to his fathers
business. After adding to his fathers
estate by bis own shrewa dealings,
Samuel S. Bradshaw died, leaving two
sons and a daughter. Mrs. Fernan.
dez's father, who was also named
Samuel S., was the youngest
son. In 1916 he emigrated to
America and took position in bank
in this city, which he held for nineteen
wears. He had two sons and two
daughters. His brother and sister in
England died. In 1850 he received no.
tification from the English authorities
that his brothers estate, to which he
was the heir, was awaiting him. MIR.
Bradshaw took no notice of the COM
munication. In 1861 he entered the
civil war with his son Robert. The
other son, Samuel, was an actor in the
Old Bowery Theatre, when it was I'M
der the management of Fox and Lin-
gard. He also played at the Old Ma
tional. He began to look mp the mat
ter of the property. His efforts to OBJ
tain it continued until he died, in 1853.
Robert, the other brother, had mean
while died. The father had retired to
a little country estate in st. Johnland,
Long Island.
The task OF getting the property
thus devolved ON tue two daughters.
Mrs. Fernandez had her professional
duties to attend TO. Her sister, who
lad married member OF Parliament
and was living in England, began an
action in the English courts to recover
the estates, which had been seized and
held for years OF unpaid taxes. She
fought the matter for eight years, the
decision some years ago being made in
her favor. The property would then
have been given her but Tor the lacs
that she give no proof of her sister
being either living or dead.
In some way she had been led to
believe that Mrs. Fernandez was in
Australia. For long time advertise
ments were inserted in the New Zea-
land and Australian papers, but with
out effect. Finally the advertisement
in q morning paper came to her notice.
Her proofs OF identity are to be sub
mitted when the English courts open
III October. As it is, when matters are
satisfactorily arranged, the pro
perty will come into the hands
of old Mr.. Bradshaw, who has made
all his claims over to Mrs. Fernan-
dez. The other sister is wealthy and
does not need the money. Mrs. Fer
uandez's share will therefore be the
greatest part of the estate, which con-
slsts of three country seats, three shoot
ing boxes in three different counties in
England, and considerable farm land.
Altogether the estate brings in an an
nual rental of &c, coo or $50, 900.